LAKE MARY, Fla. – One key factor behind the success of the multiple award-winning Wekiva Parkway Section 8 Interchange project – a $274.5 million design-build effort in Seminole County and the final segment of the Orlando beltway – was the trust among the collaborative team.
This trust will be a central topic in a panel discussion featuring DRMP Senior Vice President of Alternative Delivery TJ Lallathin, PE, DBIA, who will share insights on the project’s success as part of a panel titled, “Building Success Together: Subcontractors in the Design-Build Process.” The event, hosted by the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Florida Region, will take place from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 4 at Top Golf in Lake Mary. More than 60 attendees are expected.
Lallathin will discuss how the design-build team assembled the right mix of partners from the start, matching expertise with project needs to position the team for an innovative proposal and successful delivery.
“I’m excited to be part of this panel because it gives us a chance to show how each perspective adds value,” Lallathin said. “On Wekiva Parkway 8, having subconsultants involved early made a huge difference. We were able to spot challenges sooner, bring new ideas to the table, and deliver a better outcome. I think hearing those different viewpoints side by side will really highlight the power of collaboration in design-build.”
Lallathin said what made Wekiva 8 a strong example of successful collaboration between the lead designer and major subconsultants was that they didn’t just split responsibilities. They advanced the work together.
“Their geotechnical innovations helped de-risk the pursuit, and parallel design packages kept pace with construction,” he said. “This teamwork made a direct impact on cost savings, schedule gains, and a safer interchange.”
Lallathin will also touch on how collaboration on this project went beyond coordination and involved an established level of trust. The project’s prime contractor, The Lane Construction Corporation, relied on DRMP’s local knowledge and design-build expertise, while subconsultants, such as Ardaman & Associates, Inc., went the extra mile during pursuit to validate bold ideas. That trust gave the team the confidence to propose innovations and helped secure their winning position.
He added that having major subconsultants involved from the earliest stages of a design-build project is crucial because they shape the project’s trajectory. Early subconsultant involvement brings technical insight and creative solutions that not only minimize risk but also open the door to transformative concepts – sometimes the difference between a good bid and a standout one.
Along with Lallathin, panelists for the Wekiva 8 discussion will include Pat McGriff, PE, DBIA, senior business development manager for The Lane Construction Corporation; Colin Jewsbury, PE, Orlando branch manager and senior engineer at Ardaman & Associates, Inc.; and a representative from the Florida Department of Transportation District 5 (to be announced).
About DRMP
DRMP is a multi-discipline firm serving clients in the public, private and industrial sectors in the development of infrastructure and has been in business since 1977. DRMP currently employs 700 professionals in 23 office locations spread strategically across our service area. Today, DRMP is ranked among Engineering News-Record’s “Top 500 Design Firms” in the United States. For more information, please visit www.drmp.com.
